Chris Fornesa

Drawings

Paintings

Digital Work

Creative Hope

Visual Poetry

1. Outline

My name is Christopher Sugatan Fornesa, and this is a gallery of my work. This first cube contains a set of drawings. This first image is an outline of my facial hair while I was wearing a blue shirt. Outlined clearly are my moustache, my beard, and my hair.

2. Twins

This second image is a drawing of myself and my dog, Kiba. This study was hyperrealistic and was done using graphite, accentuating our eyes and my facial hair.

3. Self

The third image is a study of my facial features, with a portrait of myself, a study of my left eye, a study of my lips, and a study of my nose. These drawings were done using graphite.

4. Freedom

The fourth image is titled "Freedom", a minimalist piece with imagery, such as a volcano representing danger and a bird with an olive branch flying away, to represent hope.

5. Passion

This fifth image is a drawing that includes my eyes and a fire that represent my passion while the background textures are the struggles in life.

6. Yellow Dinner

"Yellow Dinner" is a playful piece that was based on a monochromatic construction paper assignment that incorporated several abstract techniques to create what could be described as a messy, but surrealistic piece.

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1. Outline

PreviousNext

My name is Christopher Sugatan Fornesa, and this is a gallery of my work. This first cube contains a set of drawings. This first image is an outline of my facial hair while I was wearing a blue shirt. Outlined clearly are my moustache, my beard, and my hair.

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2. Twins

PreviousNext

This second image is a drawing of myself and my dog, Kiba. This study was hyperrealistic and was done using graphite, accentuating our eyes and my facial hair.

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3. Self

PreviousNext

The third image is a study of my facial features, with a portrait of myself, a study of my left eye, a study of my lips, and a study of my nose. These drawings were done using graphite.

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4. Freedom

PreviousNext

The fourth image is titled "Freedom", a minimalist piece with imagery, such as a volcano representing danger and a bird with an olive branch flying away, to represent hope.

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5. Passion

PreviousNext

This fifth image is a drawing that includes my eyes and a fire that represent my passion while the background textures are the struggles in life.

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6. Yellow Dinner

PreviousNext

"Yellow Dinner" is a playful piece that was based on a monochromatic construction paper assignment that incorporated several abstract techniques to create what could be described as a messy, but surrealistic piece.

7. Figured Out

This set of nine paintings contains figures, most of which were of my face or my hands. This set was mainly a color study. Acrylic.

8. Who I Am

This painting/drawing is an expressive self-portrait featuring myself and my values, with several motifs that I felt, at the time, represented me. Mixed-media.

9. Bricks

Bricks are the foundation of a well-built structure while who we are and what we represent are simply a microcosm of the society in which we take part. Watercolor.

10. Spirits

The spiritual and reality are intertwined and, while the figures I expressed seem disembodied, in their world, the spirits are very real. Watercolor.

11. Industrial Hall Of Dreams

Industry is a major part of global society, and within its halls, we find our goals, dreams and ambitions. Acrylic.

12. Myself with Figured Out

One of my proudest achievements so far in life was when I won "Best of Show" at the Level II Art Show for students of Houston Community College in Spring 2015.

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7. Figured Out

PreviousNext

This set of nine paintings contains figures, most of which were of my face or my hands. This set was mainly a color study. Acrylic.

x

8. Who I Am

PreviousNext

This painting/drawing is an expressive self-portrait featuring myself and my values, with several motifs that I felt, at the time, represented me. Mixed-media.

x

9. Bricks

PreviousNext

Bricks are the foundation of a well-built structure while who we are and what we represent are simply a microcosm of the society in which we take part. Watercolor.

x

10. Spirits

PreviousNext

The spiritual and reality are intertwined and, while the figures I expressed seem disembodied, in their world, the spirits are very real. Watercolor.

x

11. Industrial Hall of Dreams

PreviousNext

Industry is a major part of global society, and within its halls, we find our goals, dreams and ambitions. Acrylic.

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12. Myself with Figured Out

PreviousNext

One of my proudest achievements so far in life was when I won "Best of Show" at the Level II Art Show for students of Houston Community College in Spring 2015.

13. Versions of Me

Simply, this is a set of digital works that focus upon using myself and my artwork to create new art. Adobe Photoshop

14. Same Dude, Different Worlds

A rendered, imagined meeting between two versions of the same person, separated only by species of their native worlds.

15. City-State

An imagined rendering of a city-state located on a foreign world.

16. City on the Moon

An imagined society that makes its home on the surface of the moon.

17. City on Mars

An imagined society that makes its home on the surface of Mars.

18. City on Jupiter's Ring

An imagined society that makes its home in a cave in an asteroid located in the ring of Jupiter

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13. Versions of Me

PreviousNext

Simply, this is a set of digital works that focus upon using myself and my artwork to create new art. Adobe Photoshop

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14. Same Dude, Different Worlds

PreviousNext

A rendered, imagined meeting between two versions of the same person, separated only by species of their native worlds.

x

15. City-State

PreviousNext

An imagined rendering of a city-state located on a foreign world.

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16. City on the Moon

PreviousNext

An imagined society that makes its home on the surface of the moon.

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17. City on Mars

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An imagined society that makes its home on the surface of Mars.

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18. City on Jupiter's Ring

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An imagined society that makes its home in a cave in an asteroid located in the ring of Jupiter

19. Creative Hope Logo Concept

Above is the intiial logo concept for the planned Creative Hope organization, which was formed to host an event benefiting Houston-area victims of Hurricane Harvey.

20. Creative Hope Logo

Featured is the actual logo that was set for Creative Hope. This logo is the minimal portion of the aforementioned concept design that features only the stylized "C" and "H" overlayed with the rest of the words "Creative" and "Hope" (featured in all capitalized type).

21. Houston Strong Logo Concept 1

This "Houston Strong" logo was created as a sample for the advertisement of our Creative Showcase & Auction. This logo concept featured the words "Houston Strong" (in all capitalized type) overlayed on a map of the Houston area featured in white, while Harris County (the epicenter of our area), is featured in red. Parts of "Houston" overlayed on blue and red areas were shown in white, while portions overlayed on white areas were shown in black. Portions of "Strong" overlayed on blue areas were also shown in white, while those overlayed on red areas were shown in green (which makes for some interesting differentiation, albeit a design mistake), and portions overlayed on white areas were shown in blue.

22. Houston Strong Logo Concept 2

This "Houston Strong" logo was created as a sample for the advertisement of our Creative Showcase & Auction. This logo concept featured the words "Houston Strong" (in all lowercase type) overlayed on a map of the Houston area featured in red, while Harris County (the epicenter of our area), is featured in blue. "Houston Strong" was overlayed on both red and blue areas with a white font color, with the exception of the "o" in Houston featured in black, as it was intentionally placed on top of the downtown area of Houston where city hall is located.

23. Houston Strong Logo Concept 3

This "Houston Strong" logo was created as a sample for the advertisement of our Creative Showcase & Auction. This logo concept featured the words "Houston Strong" (in all lowercase type) overlayed on a map of the Houston area featured in blue, while Harris County (the epicenter of our area), is featured in red. "Houston Strong" was overlayed on both red and blue areas with a white font color, with the exception of the "o" in Houston featured in black, as it was intentionally placed on top of the downtown area of Houston where city hall is located.

24. Houston Strong Logo Concept 4

This "Houston Strong" logo was created as a sample for the advertisement of our Creative Showcase & Auction. This logo concept featured the words "Houston Strong" (in all capitalized type) overlayed on a map of the Houston area featured in white, while Harris County (the epicenter of our area), is featured in red. Parts of "Houston" overlayed on black and red areas were shown in white, while portions overlayed on white areas were shown in black. Portions of "Strong" overlayed on black areas were also shown in white, while those overlayed on red areas were shown in green (which makes for some interesting differentiation, albeit a design mistake), and portions overlayed on white areas were shown in blue (which seems to make no intentional design sense but, again, adds another level of diversity to the piece).

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19. Creative Hope Logo Concept

PreviousNext

Above is the intiial logo concept for the planned Creative Hope organization, which was formed to host an event benefiting Houston-area victims of Hurricane Harvey.

x

20. Creative Hope Logo

PreviousNext

Featured is the actual logo that was set for Creative Hope. This logo is the minimal portion of the aforementioned concept design that features only the stylized "C" and "H" overlayed with the rest of the words "Creative" and "Hope" (featured in all capitalized type).

x

21. Houston Strong Logo Concept 1

PreviousNext

This "Houston Strong" logo was created as a sample for the advertisement of our Creative Showcase & Auction. This logo concept featured the words "Houston Strong" (in all capitalized type) overlayed on a map of the Houston area featured in white, while Harris County (the epicenter of our area), is featured in red. Parts of "Houston" overlayed on blue and red areas were shown in white, while portions overlayed on white areas were shown in black. Portions of "Strong" overlayed on blue areas were also shown in white, while those overlayed on red areas were shown in green (which makes for some interesting differentiation, albeit a design mistake), and portions overlayed on white areas were shown in blue.

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22. Houston Strong Logo Concept 2

PreviousNext

This "Houston Strong" logo was created as a sample for the advertisement of our Creative Showcase & Auction. This logo concept featured the words "Houston Strong" (in all lowercase type) overlayed on a map of the Houston area featured in red, while Harris County (the epicenter of our area), is featured in blue. "Houston Strong" was overlayed on both red and blue areas with a white font color, with the exception of the "o" in Houston featured in black, as it was intentionally placed on top of the downtown area of Houston where city hall is located.

x

23. Houston Strong Logo Concept 3

PreviousNext

This "Houston Strong" logo was created as a sample for the advertisement of our Creative Showcase & Auction. This logo concept featured the words "Houston Strong" (in all lowercase type) overlayed on a map of the Houston area featured in blue, while Harris County (the epicenter of our area), is featured in red. "Houston Strong" was overlayed on both red and blue areas with a white font color, with the exception of the "o" in Houston featured in black, as it was intentionally placed on top of the downtown area of Houston where city hall is located.

x

24. Houston Strong Logo Concept 4

PreviousNext

This "Houston Strong" logo was created as a sample for the advertisement of our Creative Showcase & Auction. This logo concept featured the words "Houston Strong" (in all capitalized type) overlayed on a map of the Houston area featured in white, while Harris County (the epicenter of our area), is featured in red. Parts of "Houston" overlayed on black and red areas were shown in white, while portions overlayed on white areas were shown in black. Portions of "Strong" overlayed on black areas were also shown in white, while those overlayed on red areas were shown in green (which makes for some interesting differentiation, albeit a design mistake), and portions overlayed on white areas were shown in blue (which seems to make no intentional design sense but, again, adds another level of diversity to the piece).

My name is Chris Fornesa, the only person in the world with my full name and first name/last name combination.

While that does sound interesting, my name is rare. The surname "Fornesa" is only shared by two main groups: the larger group being Filipinos who are all related, while a smaller group consists of individuals of Latinoamerican and Spanish origin. We likely number below a thousand in sum and, with shared the histories of colonialism, white supremacy, and struggle, were likely on opposing sides of the Spanish-American war.

However, my story is modern. It is one that involves several "coming outs", stresses, struggle, desperation, cultural shifts, racism, and mental illness. It is one that makes me alike with most people in existence, but yet, this strange combination keeps me adrift and aloof from the rest of humanity, in a way.

Because of this, my lack of trust leaves me with few ways to be vulnerable and open up to others. However, when my vulnerabilities shine and my story is shared, I feel a little more free, a bit more confident, and a lot closer to my purpose in life.

Therefore, I feel it to be my mission in life to simply express myself, in all the glory that I have within me. To do so would be the revolutionary act of loving myself, regardless of others' views of my capacity to do so. No matter how much I suffer, I always find ways to defy my negative ways of thinking. Despite currently going to a conservative, Christian school online for my MS in IT (which for privacy reasons I will not reveal), I remain true to myself as a queer, autistic, disabled man of color. Despite getting evicted from our family home by an unfair legal system, I still graduated from the University of Houston with a 4.0 GPA, with a Liberal Studies degree and minors in Political Science, Studio Art, and Business Foundations. Regardless of all circumstances, I fight back, even when I feel that I have lost the strength to do so.

The most important thing to know about me is not my creativity, my talents, my intellect, or my accomplishments. The most important thing to know about me is the perseverance that I hold deep in my heart.

This gallery contains selected works created by myself, Chris Fornesa.

I am an artist with an eye for the interdisciplinary. As an artist, I enjoy using an array of media, techniques, and motifs that, altogether, serve the purpose of fulfilling my intent &dash; whatever that intent may be for that particular piece.

I am also a web designer/developer, with the aim of creating socially-conscious and creative custom websites that matter in both form and function.

My creative drive leads me to experiment with different media, methodologies, and styles. I describe my methods as a mixture of the scientific and, simultaneously, artistic. While I always seek out order within every medium and style, I reconcile analytical orderliness with creative muse through sheer practice and the exploration of ideas.

This website was designed by myself as well. I believe that art can take many forms and that, including this gallery, can serve any purpose. Art is not necessarily for the sake of only pleasing the eye but, instead, is about the process itself that is involved in creating such works.

Of course, one consideration every artist takes is whether or not a work's form is visually appealing or has any external meaning that can be imbued upon it. However, art can also be revolutionary and, to myself, seeing code as art is one way that I can embody this belief.

While my demeanor is often off-putting and doesn't seem to match my creations, it is just another part of me that, due to distrust in people, serves as a protective outer shell. However, in my work, the other dimensions of my soul can be found.

My artwork is derivative of passion and expression found deep within my soul. This is a portion of my real self that, although unexpected by most, is extremely open and lively.